The Ministry of Defence has scrapped plans to vacate Arborfield Garrison for now, but celebrations from anti-development campaigners could be short-lived.

The Garrison is earmarked to take 3,500 homes by 2026, as well as be a new home for The Emmbrook School in Emmbrook Road, which suffers from frequent flooding.

However, defence secretary Dr Liam Fox announced today plans for a new £14 billion defence academy at St Athan in Wales have been scrapped.

Although campaigners initially hoped this would mean the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Corp will stay in Arborfield, getwokingham has learned the MOD still plans to dispose of the site for housing.

Wokingham Borough Council had been told in the past the Garrison would be vacated by around 2015 for development.